A gun-show promoter yesterday took aim at Sen. Mike DeWine by filing petitions to run against him in the March 7 Republican primary election. Ronald R. Dickson, 53, of Oxford Ohio, filed petitions containing 3,600 signatures. He needs valid signatures of 1,000 registered voters to qualify for the ballot. Calling DeWine a "turncoat Republican" for his vote last May to require background checks at gun shows, Dickson accused DeWine of trying "to shut down gun shows and... (GunPolicy.org)

The Clinton administration, convinced that Congress has badly underestimated the public appetite for new gun regulations, will convene a meeting of top aides today "to prepare an all-out offensive on guns in the coming year," a senior White House official said last night. The plan will include extra spending by the Justice and Treasury departments for various gun control measures, the official said. It underscores a growing fervor for gun regulation in the... (GunPolicy.org)

Some local officials say they are worried that the Clinton administration is trying to grab control of the municipal lawsuits that have been filed against the gun industry. The concern emerged after a strategy meeting in Washington between administration representatives and local officials from some of the 28 cities and counties that have filed suits, seeking to force reform of the way handguns are made and distributed. Specifically, some local officials say they are... (GunPolicy.org)

SPRINGFIELD — Five years ago, Senate President James "Pate" Philip sponsored a bill to raise first-time penalties for illegal possession of a firearm from a misdemeanor to a felony. "What this basically does," he said at the time, "is increase the penalty (for) people who misuse violent weapons and firearms." Now Philip is the main roadblock to another anti-crime bill because it contains a remarkably similar provision making illegal firearm possession a felony. In... (GunPolicy.org)

STURGIS, South Dakota — David Small and James Keith like nothing better than gabbing about guns, browsing in gun stores, and blasting shooting-range targets. Three years ago, the businessmen buddies decided to turn their hobby into a money-making enterprise. Though neither had any firearm-industry experience, they bought the remains of a dwindling California pistol manufacturer. "We thought: making guns-cool!" recalls Mr. Small. Their new company, Galena Industries... (GunPolicy.org)

MIAMI — Dade County officials bounced back from their fresh court loss to the nation's gun industry and went straight to the federal government Tuesday to put greater legal pressure on firearms manufacturers. In a meeting with U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo and White House policy chief Bruce Reed, county officials talked about joining a federal class-action lawsuit to be brought by 3,190 public housing authorities against gun makers. The... (GunPolicy.org)

WASHINGTON — President Clinton will take action on gun safety next year, the White House said Wednesday, contending Congress has "frustrated the American public" by failing to tighten firearms restrictions in a year of mass shootings. Clinton's chief of staff, John Podesta, convened a brainstorming session of administration officials to come up with various actions Clinton could take, either through executive authority, federal regulations or new legislation beyond... (GunPolicy.org)